Quelo

Cappuccino to cocktail, a hole inthe wall bar worth finding

Walking around the cobbled streets of Florence you often look down a road and wonder if it′s worth the turn. Borgo Santa Croce is one such street. It may be dark, narrow, lined with medieval palazzi and void of flashy signage, but do not be deterred. It is worth investigating, and those who venture will be rewarded. As you will be at Quelo.

Quelo was opened in Florence in 2012 by three friends, Clo, Francesca, and Katia, with a desire to feed locals healthy, homemade food along with an ‘at home’ feel. The space is an eclectic mix of worn furniture, retro posters and original pictures by local artists. The space centres on a 1950′s inspired glass cabinet kitchen neatly positioned at the front of the bar.

From breakfast to cocktail hour at Quelo

Pop by from 8 am for a creamy cappuccino with bitter cacao topping matched with a freshly baked sweet pastry. At lunch choose from an extensive salad menu served with made to order panini. From 7 pm, you can enjoy the sumptuous aperitivo buffet of freshly made salads with couscous, broccoli, farro, lentils, white beans, chickpeas and homemade pesto, truffle or red pepper dips. Choose from a well-priced wine list, including Chianti, Prosecco and Tuscan whites such as Vernaccia.

The cocktail list includes standards (mojito, martini) as well as the Ultimate Mix, which is made from freshly squeezed fruit and vegetable juices combined with vodka and served in a cocktail glass. Try the zesty combination of beetroot, ginger, and green apple with vodka, or perhaps you prefer a drink laced with mint or liquorice.

Whatever combination you desire, these fruity concoctions are arguably the best and coolest yin-yang cocktail tonic in town. With regular music nights showcasing live performers to DJs and a new Monday knitting event in Florence, the Quelo girls plan to continue to create a space to enjoy any night of the week.

quelo.com

Photo credit: Raissa Damergi

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